There are several types of income-driven plans, and each of them can make monthly federal student loan payments much more affordable. But income-driven repayment plans can result in higher interest costs over time in some cases. This guide will explain the basics of how these plans work and provide details on how you calculate your income to determine your monthly IDR payment.
Loans During COVID-19
Most borrowers with federal student loans, including those on an IDR program, do not have to make payments during the coronavirus crisis. The Secretary of Education temporarily suspended federally owned student loan payments and interest from March 13, 2020, through Jan. 31, 2022. The date was extended until Aug. 31, 2022. It was then extended again to Dec. 31, 2022, and then again into 2023. The period during which loan payments are suspended will count toward earning loan forgiveness under income-driven plans and under Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
What Is an Income-Driven Repayment Plan?
IDR plans are designed to make paying off student loans affordable based on your wages and the size of your family. There are four different IDR options that you can choose from if you have eligible federal student loans:
Revised Pay as You Earn (REPAYE): Payments are generally set at 10% of your discretionary income. Any remaining balance from undergraduate study is forgiven after 20 years. The limit is 25 years if any loans were taken out for graduate or professional programs. Pay as You Earn (PAYE): Payments are generally set at 10% of discretionary income, but they can’t exceed the amount you’d owe under the standard repayment plan. Any remaining balance is forgiven after 20 years of payments. Income-Based Repayment (IBR): Payments are generally set at 10% of discretionary income if you first borrowed after July 1, 2014, or at 15% of income if you borrowed prior to that date. Payments can never exceed the amount you’d owe under the standard 10-year repayment plan. Any remaining balance is forgiven after 20 years for borrowers who took their loans after July 1, 2014, or after 25 years for other borrowers. Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR): Payments are set at the lesser of 20% of discretionary income or the amount that would be due if you had a 12-year repayment plan with a fixed payment, adjusted for income. Any remaining balance is forgiven after 25 years of payments.
How Do You Calculate Income for an Income-Driven Plan?
There are just a few simple steps involved in calculating your income for income-driven repayment.
Determine Your Annual Income
This is your income from all sources throughout the year. It includes all taxable income from employment, unemployment benefits, dividends, alimony, and interest. It does not include untaxed income, such as public benefits from your state or Supplemental Security Income. You can find your annual income on your tax returns. But you may need to provide additional documentation if your income changed significantly compared to the previous year.
Determine Whether Your Spouse’s Income Counts
Both your income and your spouse’s earnings count when determining your income if you’re married and file a joint tax return. Generally, only your income counts if you’re married and file a separate return. Your spouse’s income must be factored under the REPAYE Program unless you can’t access information about their income for some reason or you’re separated.
Determine Your Family Size
Your family size is the number of people in your family, including anyone who lives with you and receives more than half their support from you, including children and dependent adults.
Determine the Poverty Guideline for Your Family Size and Location
The Department of Education uses poverty guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services to calculate your discretionary income. The 2022 guidelines are: Your discretionary income is calculated by taking the difference between your annual income and 100% of the poverty guideline if you’re on the ICR plan. Your payments will equal either 10% or 15% of your discretionary income, depending on your IDR plan.
Factors for Married Couples to Consider
The Department of Education will determine eligibility for IDR plans based on your combined income if you file a tax return jointly with your spouse. It will also take combined student loan debt into consideration. Getting married and filing a joint tax return could have a big impact on your monthly student loan payment. Married filing separately can keep student loan payments lower under some circumstances, but this filing status has other consequences. It may make sense to talk with a tax expert about what filing option makes sense.
